The next morning, as David awakes, the hotel chambermaid asks David if he would like to shave, embarrassing David as he is still too young to be in need of a shave. By and by, David joins Steerforth for breakfast. Steerforth, who is, as always, David’s object of admiration, asks David about his circumstances. David explains that, on his great-aunt’s suggestion, he is on a month long holiday. Subsequently, since David has no pressing engagements, Steerforth invites David to stay with him at his—Steerforth’s—house in Highgate for a couple of days. David accepts the invitation. At dusk, they arrive at Highgate, having spent the greater part of the day sightseeing London with Steerforth acting as tour guide.
At Highgate, they are greeted by Steerforth’s mother Mrs. Steerforth. Mrs. Steerforth is extremely proud of her son James, and David doesn’t doubt that, if allowed to, she would make the topic of the conversation a perpetual encomium of her son. Also present at the house is a thin, large eyed, young woman named Miss Rosa Dartle. An orphaned relative of the Steerforth’s, Miss Dartle had been adopted by Mrs. Steerforth. She has a permanent scar on her upper lip, and David learns that Steerforth had been cause of it when he had thrown a hammer at her when they were children. David notices that Miss Dartle has a habit of insinuating as opposed to getting to the point when speaking. During dinner, David mentions his plan to visit Mr. Peggotty and is inspired to invite Steerforth to join him. Steerforth gladly accepts the invitation.
At tea, Miss Dartle insinuates at the meaning of David’s nickname (Daisy) which Steerforth calls him by. She wonders if Daisy is an allusion to David’s relative youth and innocence. David embarrassingly acknowledges that that is so. As David turns in for the night, he can’t get Miss Dartle’s annoying insinuating mannerisms out of his head.